Broccoli Slaw

Serves 12 (1/2-cup servings)

1/3 cup currants
2 pounds broccoli, about 1 large head
1/4 pound red onion (1/2 small onion), finely chopped
3/4 cup almonds, slivered or roughly chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper

Heat 1/2 cup water to boiling and pour over the currants in a small bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes, then drain.

Shred the broccoli in a food processor, using the grater disk (the attachment with the holes, not the blade). In a large bowl, combine the shredded broccoli, currants, red onion, and almonds.

Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, and a generous quantity of fresh pepper. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir to combine. Taste and add more salt or pepper, if needed. Allow to sit for 30 minutes (or an hour in the fridge) so the flavors can mingle.

Recipe Notes

• Quicker Slaw: If you do want to skip the broccoli shredding, substitute about 6 cups of pre-shredded broccoli slaw mix for the whole broccoli.
• Reader Tip: We love the reader recommendation of substituting dried cranberries for the currants.

Mason Jar Salads

From Earthbound Farm


You Must Go in Order
First, you want to put in your salad dressing. When it's sitting at the bottom of your jar, it can't make the rest of your salad soggy. Then, put in a healthy grain or protein—something that will serve the dual purpose of guarding the more delicate salad ingredients from the dressing and also soaking up some of the dressing's flavor (so it's that much yummier). Then, put in the rest of your toppings, finishing off with your leafy greens. That way they won't get smushed and they'll be at the bottom when you pour everything onto a plate or into a bowl at lunchtime.


Combine Textures and Flavors
The most satisfying salads contain a filling protein, something salty, something crunchy, something sweet, and something tangy. Example: edamame (a protein) with roasted squash (subtly sweet), tomato vinaigrette (tangy), and sunflower seeds (salty and crunchy!). 

Cook Your Veggies First

Just because it's a salad doesn't mean everything in it has to be raw. If you've already roasted veggies for dinner one night, use some of the leftovers to top the salad you pack for lunch the next day—it'll make your meal so much more flavorful, and you'll likely find you need less dressing since you probably used some oil during the cooking process. If you're feeling really fancy, you can even try roasting fruits (FYI, roasted grapes might just be our favorite salad topping ever).

Want more fun salad combo ideas? Check out this oh-so-helpful infographic from Earthbound Farm:

Broccoli Salad

From Cook's Illustrated.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

Most recipes for this salad leave the broccoli raw, but we found that cooking it briefly in boiling water improved both flavor and appearance. Adding the hardier stems to the cooking water before the florets levels the playing field, so both are tender at the same time. Drying the broccoli in… read more

SERVES 4 TO 6

When prepping the broccoli, keep the stems and florets separate. If you don’t own a salad spinner, lay the broccoli on a clean kitchen towel to dry in step 3. You can make the salad up to six hours in advance.

INGREDIENTS

• 6slices bacon, chopped fine
• 1/2cup golden raisins
• 1 1/2pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1-inch pieces, stalks peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 1/2cup mayonnaise
• 1tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2cup walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse
• 1large shallot, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 
   
   1. Cook bacon in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towel–lined plate.
   2. Combine 4 cups water and 4 cups ice in large bowl. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven. Remove ½ cup boiling water and combine with raisins in small bowl; cover, let sit for 5 minutes, and drain.
   3. Meanwhile, add broccoli stalks to boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Add florets and cook until slightly tender, about 1 minute. Drain broccoli and place in ice water to cool. Drain again, transfer to salad spinner, and spin dry.
   4. Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper together in large bowl. Add broccoli, raisins, walnuts, and shallot to bowl with dressing and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with bacon and serve.

Moroccan Couscous Salad

I wonder if I can use quinoa instead of couscous.

While traditional couscous with its exotic spices is the stuff of cold winter nights, I love that the same spices—ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin—can make a cool couscous salad that's perfect on even the sultriest days. My favorite go-along is grilled chicken, but the salad is also good with grilled fish. When I've got leftover couscous, I spoon it onto a bed of lightly dressed greens, surround it with slices of tomato (and sometimes hard-boiled eggs), and call it lunch. - Dorie Greenspan

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Lemon-Chicken-and-Moroccan-Couscous-Salad-242984#ixzz2kJNRWPw8

Couscous:

• 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 10-ounce box plain couscous
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
• 1 large carrot, peeled, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 cup thinly sliced green beans or trimmed sugar snap peas
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

For couscous: 
Bring chicken broth, 1 tablespoon oil, ginger, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin to boil in heavy large saucepan. Stir in couscous and remove from heat. Scatter raisins over, cover, and let stand until couscous softens, about 10 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork, breaking up any lumps with fingertips. Transfer couscous to large bowl. Add cucumber, red bell pepper, carrot, green beans, and lemon peel. Whisk remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and lemon juice in small bowl. Add to couscous; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Chickpea, Barley and Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Mint and Feta

From Kitchn.

Makes 2 servings as a main dish, 4 servings as a side dish

2 medium zucchini
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided, plus more for salting water
1/3 cup pearl barley
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups (or 1 15-ounce can) chickpeas, drained
2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
2 tablespoons feta cheese
Freshly ground pepper

Trim the ends of the zucchini and cut in half crosswise. Using a mandoline or a knife, cut the zucchini into thin matchsticks and place in a colander in the sink. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and massage lightly with your hands to evenly disperse the salt. Let sit for 20-30 minutes, or as long as it takes to prepare the rest of the salad.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the barley. Cook, stirring occasionally, until barley is cooked through but still pleasantly chewy, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, barley and about half of the dressing. If the barley is still very hot, let the mixture sit until just warm, stirring occasionally. Squeeze the zucchini gently to get rid of any excess moisture and add to the bowl, along with the remaining dressing and the mint. Stir and transfer to a serving bowl. Crumble the feta over the top and serve.

Additional Notes
• Warm beans absorb dressing better. The chickpeas can either be warmed in the microwave or in a small pan on the stove before being tossed with the dressing, but if you're gripped by summer cooking laziness, feel free to skip this step; the salad will still be good.
• The salad can be made several hours ahead and refrigerated. Longer than that, and the texture of the zucchini becomes a bit soggy.

Warm Farro Salad with Chickpeas, Feta, and Spicy Dressing

I`m not a salad person, but i like farro, chickpea and feta, so I just might try this recipe from Orangette someday.

Farro should be soaked briefly before cooking. I give instructions below for cooking standard farro, and hey, feel free to scale up and cook an even bigger batch, if you’d like. From one cup of uncooked farro, I wind up with enough cooked farro for three or four servings of this salad.

For the farro:
1 cup farro
½ tsp. salt

For the dressing:
3 Tbsp. fish sauce
3 Tbsp. lime juice
2 to 3 Tbsp. (25 to 35 g) brown sugar
6 to 8 Tbsp. water, to taste
1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed
1 Thai chile, very thinly sliced

For the salad:
Chickpeas, either canned (drained and rinsed) or cooked from dried
Escarole, coarsely chopped or sliced
Radicchio, coarsely sliced
Carrots, sliced into rounds
Feta, coarsely crumbled

Put the farro in a medium (2 ½- to 3-quart) saucepan, add cold water to cover, and set it aside to soak for 30 minutes. Then drain the farro, put it back into the saucepan, and add 3 cups of cold water and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until tender but still a little chewy, about 45 minutes. It’s up to you, really, how “done” you want your farro. At 30 minutes, mine is usually too tough, but a few minutes later, it’s just right: al dente, but not exhausting to chew. When it’s ready, drain it, and either use it while it’s warm or transfer it to a storage container for later use. (Covered and chilled, cooked farro will keep for a few days, easy.)

To make the dressing, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of the water, the garlic, and chile in a small bowl. Whisk well. Taste: if it’s too pungent, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time. If you’d like a little more sweetness, add more brown sugar ½ tablespoon at a time. (Covered and chilled, the dressing will keep for three days to a week.)

To assemble a portion of salad, scoop out a couple of large spoonfuls of farro – maybe 1/3 to ½ cup – and put it in a wide bowl. If the farro is cold, you might want to microwave it for 45 seconds or so, to warm it. That’s what I do. Or you could put it in a small ovenproof dish, covered, and bake it for a few minutes to warm it. Or you can just leave it cold. Add a large spoonful of chickpeas, a good handful each of escarole and radicchio, and maybe half of a carrot, sliced. Top with a generous amount of feta, and then drizzle some dressing – maybe a tablespoon? Or to taste – over the whole thing. Toss, and eat

Spicy Quinoa, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN

This refreshing summer salad can sit in the refrigerator for a few hours without deteriorating, so it makes a great choice for bringing to work or to a summer picnic.

1 cup quinoa

3 cups water

Salt to taste

2 cups diced cucumber

1 small red onion, finely minced (optional)

2 cups finely diced tomatoes

1 to 2 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus several sprigs for garnish

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 avocado, sliced, for garnish

1. Place the quinoa in a bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes. Drain through a strainer, and rinse until the water runs clear. Bring the 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt (1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) and the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and translucent; each grain should have a little thread. Drain off the water in the pan through a strainer, and return the quinoa to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean dishtowel, replace the lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes. If making for the freezer, uncover and allow to cool, then place in plastic bags. Flatten the bags and seal.

2. Meanwhile, place the finely diced cucumber in a colander, and sprinkle with salt. Toss and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the cucumber with cold water, and drain on paper towels. If using the onion, place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water and drain on paper towels.

3. Combine the tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, vinegar, lime juice and olive oil in a bowl. Add the cucumber and onion, season to taste with salt, and add the quinoa and cilantro. Toss together, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve garnished with sliced avocado and cilantro sprigs.

Yield: Serves six.

Advance preparation: The quinoa freezes well, and the assembled salad will keep for a day in the refrigerator. The leftovers will be good for a couple of days.

Nutritional information per serving: 236 calories; 14 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 25 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 12 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 6 grams protein

Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

spiced chickpea with fresh vegetable salad

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/12/spiced-chickpea-salad-vegetarian-recipe

After tasting a version of this dish at a new London tapas bar, Morito, I tried to recreate it at home. It came out quite different, but still clean-tasting and fresh, with a warm spice aroma in the background. Serves four.

100g dried chickpeas
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 small cucumbers (280g)
2 large tomatoes (300g)
1 small red onion, peeled
240g radishes
1 red pepper, seeds and pith removed
20g coriander leaves and stems, roughly chopped
15g flat-leaf parsley, picked and roughly chopped
120ml olive oil
Grated zest of 2 lemons, plus 50ml lemon juice
30ml sherry vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed 
1 tsp sugar
Salt and black pepper
1 tsp ground cardamom 
1½ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cumin
Greek yoghurt (optional)

Soak the chickpeas overnight in a large bowl of cold water and the bicarb. Next day, drain, place in a large pan and cover with twice the volume of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour, skimming off any foam, until tender, then drain.

Cut the cucumber, tomato, onion, radish and pepper into 1cm dice, and mix with the coriander and parsley. In a jar or sealable container, put 75ml of olive oil with the lemon juice and zest, vinegar, garlic and sugar, shake and season to taste. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly.

Mix together the cardamom, allspice, cumin and a quarter-teaspoon of salt, and spread on a plate. Toss the cooked chickpeas in the spice mixture in batches, to coat well. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and over medium heat lightly fry the chickpeas for two to three minutes, gently shaking the pan so they cook evenly and don't stick. Keep warm.

Divide the salad between four plates, arranging it in a large circle with a slight indent in the middle, and spoon the warm chickpeas in the centre. Drizzle some Greek yoghurt on top if you prefer the salad to be a bit more creamy.

• Yotam Ottolenghi is chef/patron of Ottolenghi in London.

Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat)

From My Berlin Kitchen. The salad is best if dressed a few  hours before serving but it's also delicious eaten right away when it's still slightly warm.

Makes 4 servings

2 pounds Yukon Gold or other waxy potatoes
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
2/3 cup beef or chicken broth
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons olive or sunflower oil
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley, minced

1. Wash the potatoes and put them in a pot with cold salted water just to cover. Bring to a boil with the lid on; then reduce the heat to medium and cook the potatoes until they are just tender. Depending on their size, this should take between 20 and 30 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let them cool for at least an hour or two and up to overnight.

2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into very thin slices, about 1/8-inch thick. Put the potato slices into a serving bowl.

3. Melt the butter in a 10-inch saute pan and add the onions. Mix well and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Pour in the vinegar and the broth. Add the mustard and stir well. Let the mixture simmer over low heat for an additional 3 minutes.

4. Carefully whisk in the oil, and then pour the hot marinade over the sliced potatoes and mix well. The potatoes will take a few minutes to absorb all the dressing. Add the salt and as much freshly ground pepper as you’d like.

5. Just before serving, add the minced parsley to the bowl and mix well. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Primanti Bros. Sandwich

I heard about this sandwich from the Dinner Party podcast and found a recipe from Washington Post.

Anyone who has spent time in Pittsburgh probably has heard of Primanti Bros. The historic sandwich shop has been making its trademark fried-potatoes-and-coleslaw-topped sandwich since 1933. Now with locations across the city (and a couple in Florida), it's hard to miss.

 

For this recipe we use a spicy capicola ham, stocked in Italian delis such as the Italian Store in Arlington and Vace in Northwest Washington. But don't let that limit you: Nearly any deli meat can be substituted in this great Iron City creation.

MAKE AHEAD: The slaw can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

8 servings

Ingredients:

For the slaw

1 pound (about half of a medium-size head) green cabbage, shredded or finely chopped (about 6 cups)
1/2 cup sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper

For the twice-fried potatoes

6 to 8 large (4 to 5 pounds) russet potatoes, washed well
8 cups vegetable oil, for frying
Kosher salt

For the meat and cheese

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds spicy, thinly sliced capicola ham
8 thin slices provolone cheese (about 5 ounces)
For assembly
4 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 16 thin slices
16 large slices of soft Italian bread (18 ounces total)

Directions:

For the slaw: Combine the cabbage, sugar, salt and celery seed in a colander set over a medium bowl. Let stand at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours; the cabbage will be wilted (about 4 cups total).

Discard the draining liquid in the bowl; rinse and dry the bowl, then transfer the wilted cabbage to the bowl. Add the oil and vinegar; toss to coat. Season with pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the twice-fried potatoes: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line a few large baking sheets with several layers of paper towels. Fill a large bowl with cold water.

Cut the (unpeeled) potatoes lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick sticks. Submerge in the cold water. Rinse in subsequent changes of cold water to remove all visible starch, then drain in a colander and spread the potatoes on the paper towels, patting the potatoes dry.

Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat, until the oil temperature reaches 320 degrees.

Fry the potatoes in 4 batches; each batch will take 2 to 4 minutes. Stir occasionally as they cook, until the fries are soft and cooked through but still pale. Allow enough time for the oil to return to 320 degrees between batches; use an instant-read thermometer to monitor the oil. Use a slotted spatula to transfer the potatoes to the lined baking sheets.

Increase the heat to high (or as needed) so that the temperature of the oil reaches 375 degrees. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Refresh the paper towels on the baking sheets as needed.

Cook the fries a second time, working in 4 batches; each batch will take 2 to 3 miinutes, until the fries are crisp and golden brown. Transfer to the lined baking sheets. Immediately season lightly with salt, then place in the oven to keep the fries warm.

For the meat and cheese: Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Have ready a large baking sheet.

Separate the ham slices and add to the skillet, turning them as needed until the slices are warmed through. Transfer the slices to the baking sheet, creating 8 equal portions. Top each with a slice of provolone cheese. Place in the oven (along with the fries) just until the cheese has melted.

For assembly: Place the portions of cheese-topped ham on 8 bread slices. Top with a large handful of the warm fries, then pile about 1/2 cup of the slaw on each portion. Garnish with 2 tomato slices for each portion; use the remaining 8 pieces of bread to finish each sandwich. Serve warm.

Recipe Source:

Adapted from a Primanti Bros. recipe by Washington food writer Scott Reitz.

Buckwheat (Soba) Noodles with Green Beans & Toasted Sesame-Lime Vinaigrette

I have a thing about green beans, so I'm not sure if I will make this recipe, but the dressing I might try.

1 package buckwheat soba noodles, cooked to al dente, drained and rinsed

1/2 pound green beans, trimmed, cut into 1″ lengths and blanched

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2″ pieces

1 c. cherry tomatopes, cut in half

1-2 spring onions, cut into paper thin slices

1 c. cooked chicken or tofu, cut into 1/2″ pieces

small handful cilantro leaves

1/3 c. roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Dressing:

1/3 c. freshly squeezed lime juice

3 Tbs. fish sauce

2 Tbs. “rooster” chile sauce or siracha (to taste)

1 Tbs. sugar

2 Tbs. tamari sauce

3 Tbs. toasted sesame oil

Make dressing.  Place lime juice, fish sauce, chile sauce, sugar and tamari in a small bowl.  Whisk in sesame oil until well blended.

Place all salad ingredients together in a large bowl, reserving a small amount of peanuts and cilantro for garnish.  Add dressing, toss well, garnish and serve.

Pomelo Salad

Summer is almost here. Time for Pomelo Salad!

Vietnamese Pomelo Salad

Serves 6

1 medium pomelo 
1 cucumber, cut into matchsticks
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
3 shallots, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup mint leaves, chopped
1/4 cup chopped, roasted peanuts

Dressing
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

With a large knife slice through the rind and go around with the knife until you can pull the two sides apart. With your fingers, peel the pith away from the white-covered flesh. Then, peel away the white skin away from the flesh (use scissors or a small knife is skin is too hard.) Separate the flesh into bite-size pieces and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss cucumber strips with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes to allow the salt to draw out excess water.

Mix together the ingredients for the sauce. Set aside.

In a wok or sauté pan, cook the shallots and garlic until shallots are caramelized, about 3 minutes. Allow the shallots and garlic to cool for a few minutes, then toss with the carrots.  After the cucumber has been sitting for 20 minutes, drain away excess water and add cucumbers to carrots. Add the mint, chopped peanuts, and dressing and toss well. Transfer to a plate or large bowl and serve.

Thai Pomelo Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

One 1.5- to –lb pomelo, peeled and separated into segments
1 lb 21-26 count shrimp, peeled and deveined
¾ cup desiccated coconut flakes (unsweetened)
½  cup coconut milk
Dried red chile flakes, to taste (I use whole Mexican chile pequin as they are very easy to crumble up with your fingertips and taste just like dried bird’s eye chiles. They’re also very, very cute.)
4 tablespoons finely-minced shallots or onion
2 tablespoon finely-minced garlic
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup plain roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
Fresh lime juice, to taste
Fish sauce, to taste
A handful of Fresh cilantro leaves

Method:

1. In a small saucepan, sauté together the vegetable oil, shallots, garlic, and dried pepper flakes over medium heat until the mixture releases its wonderful aroma and becomes confit-like in consistency. Add the coconut milk into the shallot mixture and heat through; remove from heat and set aside to cool.
2. In a skillet over medium-low heat, dry toast the desiccated coconut flakes until they turn medium brown color. Be careful not to leave the skillet unattended; coconut burns very easily. Set the toasted coconut aside to cool.
3. Poach the shrimp, drain, and set it aside.
4. Gently break up the pomelo segments into roughly ½-inch pieces and put them in a large mixing bowl.
5. Add the poached shrimp, shallot-coconut mixture, toasted coconut flakes, peanuts, and cilantro leaves to the pomelo bowl.
6. Add to the mixing bowl 2 tablespoons each of the lime juice and fish sauce and toss everything together as gently as you can with your hands. Adjust the seasoning with more lime juice or fish sauce as needed. (If your pomelo is on the tart side, you may want to add just a tiny bit of sugar to counteract the acidity. But usually the subtle, natural sweetness of the toasted coconut and coconut milk is sufficient.)
7. Serve immediately with additional roasted peanuts and toasted coconut on top, if desired.

Notes:

1. Though quite a few recipe authors suggest grapefruit as a substitute for pomelo, I encourage you to seek out pomelo in Hispanic or Asian stores in your area first. Then, if you absolutely cannot find it, use grapefruit segments, blotted dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove as much juice as possible. (Grapefruit releases a lot of juice and I don’t like a salad that swims in juices.) Navel orange segments can also be used. (But then you can’t really call it Yam Som-O since the Som-O is absent.)
2. Make sure that the roasted peanuts are fresh. Nothing ruins an otherwise good dish like rancid peanuts.
3. The best way to poach shrimp is in simmering, not furiously boiling, water at the temperature of 160° and 180°F (71–82°C). Be sure to not overcook the shrimp.
4. Do not substitute lemon juice for lime juice, soy sauce for fish sauce, or sweet coconut flakes for plain desiccated coconut.
5. To kick it up a notch, add to the mix 2-3 tablespoons of crispy-fried shallots, commercial or homemade.

Italian Macaroni Salad

From Apartment Therapy.

There are recipes that you make once in awhile. Then there are recipes you make because you're inspired by a magazine or a blog. And then there are recipes that you developed through trial and error that you eat at least once a week. This is one of those — one of the good ones.

I generally look right on past recipes for macaroni salad because they usually rely on huge spoonfuls of mayonnaise or another creamy dressing. They also rarely have any substantial serving of vegetables or herbs and instead favor celery or peas or the occasional carrot. So while I think there's absolutely a time and a place for more traditional macaroni salads, I've been making a much lighter version in the kitchen lately. Instead of mayonnaise, I use a really good olive oil and a little sea salt and pepper.

With farmers market tomatoes and basil along with a nice salty feta and your favorite olives, it's one macaroni salad you'll start relying on for stay-at-home lunches or quick weeknight dinners. In fact, maybe it'll come to replace the more ubiquitous creamy version that so many people whip up during the summer months. For a heartier main dish, I'll often throw in baked tofu or chickpeas.

Italian Macaroni Salad serves 4 to 6

2 cups little elbow macaroni
3/4 cups heirloom or plum tomatoes, diced (about 2 large tomatoes)
1/4 cup basil, julienned
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
small handful of your favorite seedless olives, halved
1/4 cup good-quality olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook, rinse, and drain pasta. Be sure your macaroni noodles have cooled completely before setting out to make the salad. When the noodles are completely cool, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour olive oil over the salad and stir to combine. Season with freshly ground pepper and kosher salt to taste. Serve. Refrigerate and cover any leftovers, and continue to enjoy for up to 3 days.

Related: Recipe: Barbeque Chicken and Macaroni Salad

(Images: Megan Gordon)

• Megan Gordon
• August 10, 2011 05:15PM

Colorful Lentil Salad with Walnuts & Herbs

From Apartment Therapy

Colorful Lentil Salad with Walnuts & Herbs
6 to 8 servings

1 pound (2 to 2 1/4 cups) dry Umbrian or green French lentils
4 cups chicken broth (optional)
1/2 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 large yellow onion
3 bell peppers (ideally a mix of orange, yellow, and red)
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 cup flat parsley leaves, roughly chopped
1 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese, divided (omit for a vegan salad)
1 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (make sure it is pure pomegranate molasses with no added sugar)
2 teaspoons flaky or kosher salt, or more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper

Rinse the lentils well and place them in a saucepan. Add the chicken broth, if using, or simply cover them with about 4 cups of water. Salt lightly. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cover the pot, and cook the lentils for about 25 to 30 minutes. Test them after 20 minutes; cooking time will vary according to freshness and age of the lentils. You should turn off the heat when the lentils are toothsome and tender, but not yet mushy or falling apart. When the lentils are done cooking, spread them out on a baking sheet to cool.

Meanwhile, finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and place them in a heatsafe container. Pour about 1/2 cup of boiling water over the tomatoes and set them aside to steep.

Dice the onion, and clean out the bell peppers and dice them as well. Finely mince the garlic. Heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and add the onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the onion is just beginning to be translucent, but the peppers have not yet lost their snap or color.

Turn off the heat and mix the onion mixture with the lentils in a large bowl. Drain the tomatoes (reserve about 1/4 cup of the steeping liquid) and stir them in, as well as the toasted walnuts, chopped parsley and mint, and the lemon zest. Grate about 1 ounce of the Parmesan cheese and stir this in as well.

In a smaller bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, the 1/4 cup of steeping liquid from the sun-dried tomatoes, the lemon juice, and the pomegranate molasses. Toss this dressing with the lentils. Taste for seasoning, and stir in salt and pepper.

Spread the lentils on a serving plate or in a bowl, and use a vegetable peeler to shave the remaining Parmesan into flakes. Sprinkle these over top and serve.

  

More Grain & Legume Salads from The Kitchn

Pictured above, left to right:
• Winter Wheat Berry Salad with Figs & Red Onion
• Sweet and Savory Wild Rice Salad
• Warm Chickpea Salad with Cumin & Garlic

More (not pictured above)
• Late Summer Lentil Salad
• Meyer Lemon Grain Salad with Asparagus, Almonds and Goat Cheese
• Five Grain Salad from Emeril Lagasse

(Images: Faith Durand)

• Faith Durand
• August 25, 2011 05:30PM